But while some question whether the race will be determined by fuel mileage or if passing will be confined to pit road, no one can deny the need for speed will amp up the assault on the track record book.
Kasey Kahne's 172.533 m.p.h. run in 2004 had stood as Pocono's fastest stock-car lap until Saturday's Sprint Cup Series qualifying session, when 36 cars eclipsed the mark.
The track record now belongs to Joey Logano, who claimed his fourth career pole by navigating the tricky triangle in 50.112 seconds for an average speed of 179.598 m.p.h.
Carl Edwards was second-quickest (178.866 m.p.h.) and Paul Menard, in the No. 27 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, completed the podium in third (178.582 m.p.h.).
"I didn't think that was going to be good enough for the pole, because I didn't get to the bottom of Turn One as much as I wanted to," Logano said. "We were pretty fast when we unloaded the car on Wednesday, and my guys have done a really good job getting our car handling right."
Logano's No. 20 Toyota hit the ground running in Wednesday's first test session and, at the conclusion of nearly 13 hours of track time spread over three days, topped the speed charts in Friday's final practice at 179.501 mph.
"Joey had to go show off for everybody and do what he did in [Friday's final] practice," Edwards said. "But seriously, I have to give Joey credit. It's very difficult to run a fast lap and then go through the night, think about everything, and come back a day later and back that time up. That's very impressive."
Edwards, a two-time winner here, is excited about starting his No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford on the front row of a very fast field.
"A lot of people were complaining about how long we've been here and how much practice there was, but I'm not complaining at all," Edwards said. "We needed every day that we were here to get faster."
Logano, whose best finish at Pocono was 11th last June, may need to outrun his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates for a shot at the checkered flag. Kyle Busch will roll off fourth in the No. 18 Toyota and Denny Hamlin will start fifth in the No. 11 Camry.
The overall outlook, much like the forecast for Sunday, couldn't be brighter for the race.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, has liked what he's seen on the track and what he's heard from the drivers and teams.
"All in all, it's been really positive," Pemberton said. "With the 400-mile race and the outstanding job Goodyear did with these tires, I think we're in for an exceptional race."
